ADDRESS OF PAUL VI TO THE MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA TO THE HOLY SEE*

Monday, 20 April 1964

Mister Minister,

We welcome your visit with great pleasure, and We accept with grateful appreciation the Credential Letters by which the President of the Republic of Korea accredits Your Excellency as first Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See.

Our ardent desire is to entertain good and loyal relations, aimed towards peace and collaboration, through Your Excellency’s good offices, with the noble Republic you represent. We thank you for your kind words concerning the Catholic Church and its contribution towards the spiritual, civil and cultural welfare fo the Korean people. That friendship continue, and We give assurance that the Catholics of Korea will ever show themselves to be loyal and industrious citizens, respectful of lawful authority and obedient to the civil legislation.

For the Republic of Korea We express only wishes of every good: efor its peace and prosperity, for the succes of its high moral, civil and spiritual mission in the Far East and among all the Nations. We ask Your Excellency kindly to convey Our cordial greetings and best wishes to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Korea, to the Government and to the beloved Korean people. The Catholic Church teaches the religion of Christ to all those who freely and willingly listen to her message; but she also intends to strive, with sincere respect for legitimate authority, for the greater good of the Korean people, having no other interest than their happiness and prosperity.

Upon Your Excellency as you undertake your high duties, upon His Excellency Chung Hee Park and his collaborators in the Government, and upon all the citizens of Korea, We invoke richest divine graces and heavenly favours.